Alcohol Prohibition and Repeal in Missouri

by David J. Hanson, Ph.D.

Most Missourians had supported the establishment of National Prohibition in 1920. They were convinced that outlawing alcohol would increase prosperity, improve health, lower crime, decrease violence, and protect young people. They would soon be proven terribly wrong.

Before Prohibition, St. Louis alone was the home to over 20 breweries.

Under Prohibition some tried to survive by making ice cream, yeast, non-alcoholic drinks, malt, and other products. But most could not survive. Their employees and those of supporting industries were thrown out of work.

It was not just breweries, but supporting business and their employees who suffered. Missouri was an early producer of wine and Prohibition destroyed wineries and caused severe economic problems for grape growers.

With legitimate alcohol producers and sellers driven out of business, illegitimate operators moved in to fill the demand.
Their hastily made products sometimes contained lead toxins, creosote and even embalming fluid. Some consumers suffered paralysis, blindness or death.

To operate, illegal operators had to bribe law enforcement officers and even various elected officials. Sometimes entire police and sheriff's departments were on the take.

Knowledge of this widespread corruption reduced respect for Prohibition in particular and all law in general. With alcohol now a "forbidden fruit,"
large number of women and young people began drinking for the first time.

Prohibition led to a new pattern of drinking - consuming less frequently but more heavily. People didn't go to a speakeasy to savor drinks over a meal but to consume heavily while they had the chance.

And there was sometimes violence between organized criminals and law
enforcement as well as between rival gangs,

In addition, Prohibition reduced tax revenues from alcohol at the very same time that it was causing mounting expenses for law enforcement, courts and jails.

As the problems caused by Prohibition escalated, Missourians decided that the expected cure was much worse than the disease.